The importance of handwashing: 6 Minute English สาธารณะ

Apparently, handwashing helps the fight against Covid-19. Health authorities say that washing your hands can help to prevent the spread of viruses such as the coronavirus. But the idea of keeping hands clean to help prevent diseases is nothing new. Hungarian doctor, Ignaz Semmelweiss was one of the first people to realise its importance. Neil and Georgina talk about his work and teach you some useful English vocabulary along the way.

This weeks question
Ignaz Semmelweiss was known as the ‘saviour of mothers’ for keeping maternity wards germ-free and he had a very interesting life. But what happened to him in the end? Was it:

He won the Nobel prize
He ended up in hospital for mentally ill people
He started the first company to produce hand soap
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
patron saint
protecting or guiding saint believed to give special help to a person or place

hygiene
practices for maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness

jumped out
made a strong visual or mental impact; was easy to notice

evidence
facts and information available to decide whether a belief is true or valid

issue
important topic or subject that people are thinking about and discussing

scream and shout
speak in a forceful and sometimes angry way to try to convince someone

To download a transcript and the audio, go to our website at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200507

For more English videos and English lessons to help you learn English: www.bbclearningenglish.com

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